02 Dec Maturing in Risk: Unlocking Value Through MSSP Participation

Posted at 10:25h in Featured, Transformation Resources by

The Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) is the largest federal initiative to promote accountable care and value-based payments. HCTTF and COPE Health Solutions jointly developed an issue brief assessing Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in this model, finding that:

  • From 2022-2024, 60% of participating ACOs operated in two-sided risk models, with risk increasing with time in the program.
  • ACOs taking on downside risk delivered higher gross shared savings rates than those in upside-only models, while also achieving higher quality scores.
  • Performance volatility decreased as ACOs had more time in MSSP, with more consistent and predictable savings by the third agreement period.

MSSP demonstrates that accountable care works, especially when organizations lean into risk, invest in the infrastructure to support it, and remain committed over time to realize its rewards.

View the Issue Brief Here

 

Check out our accompanying policy brief with recommendations for CMS and CMMI to support opportunities for ACOs to bear global risk.